Try looking at thrift stores or second-hand stores for flannel shirts. These shirts will often have a worn, faded look, which is exactly the kind of plaid you want as a grunge girl. If you buy your plaid new, avoid tight-fitting or girly fit shirts. The grunge look is unstructured and loose. Try looking in the men’s section or go a size or two larger than you normally buy. You can wear the shirt either as an overshirt with another shirt underneath or tied around your waist. Avoid wearing it buttoned up. This is more grunge boy than grunge girl. If you want something plaid that is slightly more girly, look for a checkerboard plaid dress that you can wear over ripped jeans.
You can go oversized or fitted, depending on the rest of your outfit. If you go fitted, balance it out with a baggy plaid shirt or oversized overalls. Vintage t-shirts are really the way to go. Try to find some original tour or album shirts at thrift stores or second hand shops. They are more authentic and have the added bonus of looking worn and grungy because of their age. Some major retailers and department stores sell reprints of band tees. If you go this route, do something to make it look aged. Try washing it a few times to loosen the fabric. Cut off the armholes and make it into a tank top. You can also cut off the collar and wear it off the shoulder. [4] X Research source
If you can’t find an oversized top that is short enough, cut off the lower portion of any shirt. You can cut it slightly jagged to make it look more grunge. They make some crop tops with asymmetrical hem lines. These look great with flannels tied around your waist.
You might also be able to find a band tank. These can be fitted or oversized, depending on what you can find. If they are oversized, pair them with a black bra and let the straps hang off your shoulders.
One of the most influential style icons of 90s grunge was Courtney Love from the band Hole. She was also the wife of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. The grunge goddess rocked baby doll dresses all the time, mixing them with other grunge elements to create a messy, chic look. It doesn’t matter if the patterns don’t match. Matching isn’t important when you’re grunge.
You can save some money on jeans by buying a normal pair of jeans and ripping them up yourself. Non holey jeans are usually cheaper and you can add the holes wherever you want. You can also try finding jeans at thrift or second hand stores. They will be more worn and comfortable than brand new jeans. If it’s warm weather, you can also go with a pair of cut off denim shorts. These look great with a crop top and a flannel shirt around your waist.
A-line skirts look great with an oversized band t-shirt and a flannel wrapped around your waist. Don’t worry if your plaid shirt doesn’t match the pattern on the skirt. It will make you seem even more grunge. [7] X Research source
You can also try the one-shoulder look as well. Instead of wearing both of the straps clasped, wear one unclasped, folding down the panels on both sides of the overalls. This variation looks great with the crop top and a flannel.
You can layer multiple layers of tights on top of one another, with holes at different places on each pair. This adds a little extra texture to your outfit, especially if the tights or hose are two different colors or patterns.
You can top this off with a dark color lipstick if you want to add another layer to your makeup. Liv Tyler often topped off her cropped top, floral skirt, and ripped tights combination with a deep red lip. [9] X Research source [10] X Research source
Gwen Stefani dyed her hair blue, pink, and orange. Angela from My So-Called Life dyed her hair maroon as a first act of grunge rebellion. [11] X Research source Make sure it looks messy and natural. Don’t straighten your hair. You don’t want it to look like you tried to fix your hair too much. The messier it is, the grungier you will be. [12] X Research source
The most popular boot brand was Doc Martens. Girls were seen all over popular culture wearing this iconic footwear. Actresses like Liv Tyler and Winona Ryder wore them and Angela and Rayanne rocked them on My So-Called Life. Even 90s cartoons grunge style icon Jane Lane wore them on Daria. No grunge girl’s wardrobe is complete without them. [14] X Research source If you don’t like the combat boot style, you can also wear a pair of chunky shoes such as Mary Janes or a pair of canvas shoes such as Converse. Kurt Cobain was known for wearing Converse and Drew Barrymore often wore them with her baggy, ripped jeans. [15] X Research source
If you aren’t into beanies, try a bandanna. They have a similar grungy feel but come in more colors and designs. They are also more comfortable to wear in warm weather.
The way Courtney Love, Liv Tyler, and Drew Barrymore acted in the 90s provide perfect examples for the grunge attitude. Their lack of respect for authority and snarky attitude led them to constant trouble and even some arrests. This doesn’t apply to your grunge friends. They understand your carelessness and apathy for the world, which means you don’t have to get an attitude with them to get your point across.
While there were many grunge bands in the 90s, some of the most influential were bands such as Hole, Green Magnet School, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Garbage, Rage Against the Machine, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, 7 Year Bitch, Fastbacks, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season, Cat Butt, Veruca Salt, Skin Yard, Mother Love Bone, Tad, The Gits, Bush, Seven Mary 3, L7, Screaming Trees, Green River, The Melvins, Mudhoney, and Stone Temple Pilots. Newer bands are still in the style of grunge. Look into Modest Mouse, Afghan Whigs, and Dinosaur Jr. [16] X Research source [17] X Research source
